Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some genuine advice from people who have actually built an online income from scratch.

I'm 23, based in Algeria, and I'm currently in a situation where I really need to start making money online. I don't have a budget to invest, an existing audience, or a personal brand.

A few things about my situation:

• Starting with basically $0
• No existing audience or followers
• I don't show my face on social media
• I'm comfortable speaking/writing in English, French and Arabic
• I'm willing to learn and put in a lot of work
• I'm interested in affiliate marketing, but I'm not attached to it if there's a better option
• I'm looking for something I can realistically build from where I am, not a get-rich-quick scheme

I've spent quite a bit of time researching affiliate marketing, but honestly, I'm getting overwhelmed.

There are so many options: TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, SEO, email marketing, SaaS affiliate programs, physical products, digital products, discount codes, etc.

Everyone seems to have a different answer, and a lot of the advice online feels like it's written by people trying to sell a course rather than people who actually built something.

So I'd really like to hear from people who have actually done it.

If you had to start again today with $0, no audience, no personal brand and without showing your face, what would you do?

More specifically:

• Would you still choose affiliate marketing?
• If yes, what niche would you test first?
• What platform would you focus on?
• Which affiliate programs are actually worth looking at for a beginner?
• Are there programs that offer creators exclusive discount codes?
• Would you focus on building an audience first or trying to make money immediately?
• What would your first 30–90 days look like?
• How would you personally aim to make your first $100?
• What strategies would you completely avoid if you were starting over?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who started with very little and gradually built something real.

I'm not looking for motivation or "10k/month" screenshots. I'm looking for the uncomfortable truth.

If you were in my position today, what would you do?

Thanks to anyone willing to share their experience.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 22-year-old student from Algeria, and I've been trying to get into affiliate marketing for quite a while now.

I've watched YouTube videos, read blog posts, asked AI for advice, and even created Pinterest and X accounts before. But I always end up feeling like I'm missing the bigger picture.

Most of the advice I find is very generic:

• Pick a niche.
• Join affiliate programs.
• Create content.
• Drive traffic.

But no one really explains what a beginner should do day by day or week by week.

I don't have money to invest, so paid ads aren't an option. My goal is to eventually earn around $300/month and grow from there.

I'm not looking for a "get rich quick" method. I'm willing to work consistently for months if I know I'm going in the right direction.

If you're already making money with affiliate marketing, I'd really appreciate your help.

Here are some questions:

1. If you had to start again from zero today, what exact steps would you follow during the first 90 days?
2. Which traffic source would you focus on first (SEO, Pinterest, YouTube, X, Reddit, TikTok...) and why?
3. What mistakes keep beginners stuck for months?
4. What skills should I learn first?
5. What would your weekly routine look like?
6. Are there any books, YouTube channels, blogs, or courses that genuinely helped you?
7. At what point did you make your first affiliate commission?

I'm looking for practical advice from people with real experience, not theory.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to answer. I genuinely appreciate it.